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Spray vs. Rotor

I am adding a new zone to a system that has Hunter PGP sprinkler rotors. The new zone will be primarily small flower beds. Can PGP rotor heads be mixed with spray heads in the same zone? Previous posts have recommended Rain Bird spray heads. Since I already have a lot of Hunter PGP heads would you still recommend the Rain Bird spray heads. I think additional/replacement Rain Bird spray heads could be purchased at Lowe's. I don't know of a local retail source for Hunter parts. Should that influence my decision?

I prefer Rain-Bird over Hunter, but they both make quality products. It is always a good idea to stick with what is readily available in your area especially when it comes to repairing or replacing. You should never mix rotors and sprays on the same zone. The two do not match on your precipitation rates and both run off of different designed pressures. If it was a small bed, you might consider low volume irrigation or drip emitters. If the bed is a little large for your liking to use low volume or drip, try sprays instead of rotors. You will be able to cater to your watering needs in your bedding areas far more easily with sprays rather than rotors.

As jmduke7 stated, you don't want to mix rotors and sprays. By the time your rotors have put down enough water, the sprays will have drowned the flower beds. Besides, the watering needs of flowers vs. lawn are usually different, so its usually suggested that they be placed on seperate zones.

But if you have a situation where you don't want to install a new circuit and can easily tap into the existing circuit, it's possible to mix rotors with drip irrigation. The tricky part will be to match the precipitation rates, but that's possible using adjustable drip irrigation emitter devices like these (http://www.sprinklerwarehouse.com/detail.aspx?ID=170. Many other types of adjustable devices are available all over (web, wal-mart, other big box retailers). By using adjustable sprays, you'll be able to use some trial and error to increase or decrease the flow so that you get the right amount of water to the flower bed during the time rotors are running.

You will have to provide pressure regulation and filtration to the drip irrigation section with components like these (retro kit http://www.sprinklerwarehouse.com/detail.aspx?ID=1705, component http://www.sprinklerwarehouse.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=397 ).